Infection of cutaneous lesions caused by burns
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: The infections of the cutaneous lesions caused by burns represent one of the most frequent causes of mortality and morbidity in burned patients, being an important public health issue. The thermal destruction of the cutaneous barrier and the local and systemic immune depression of the host are essential factors that contribute to the onset of infection in severely burned patients. Depending on the extent of the burned lesions, on the concentration of the pathogenic organisms that colonize the wound and on their penetration over and in the depth of the viable subcutaneous tissue (not burnt), we can define different types of infections, from the wound colonization to the noninvasive and the invasive infections (cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis). When the microorganisms invade the bloodstream, they can cause septicaemia, which is an important mortality factor. The burn wounds are contaminated most often by bacteria and fungi, among which the most frequent species are Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and, lately, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae; the fungal infections represent a mortality predictor in patients with burns on more than 30-60% of the body’s surface area. The pathogenic agents may originate from the host’s normal flora (gastrointestinal and of the upper respiratory tract) and/or from the hospital environment. The emergence of the antimicrobial resistance, especially to nosocomial bacterial isolates, is an important obstacle in the treatment of these infections. Therefore, it is vital to know the microorganisms most frequently involved in the infections of the burn wounds, and their susceptibility to antibiotics.
Source: Medic ro
Author: Vasilica Ungureanu
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W3120878176